UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley State University softball team dropped a pair of games to Tiffin University today (Apr. 7). The Cardinals fell in the first game by a score of 4-1 in eight innings and then dropped game two 6-2.
Game 1 vs. Tiffin - Box Score
Saginaw Valley looked to get off to a fast start in the first inning as they were able to load the bases but failed to capitalize as all three runners were left on base.
The Cardinals would once again look to try and get something started in the bottom of the fifth when Kailah Happ (Waterford, Mich. / Kettering HS) lead off the inning with a double to right center. Freshman Kaitlyn McBride (Brampton Ont. / St. Thomas Aquinas HS) would follow her lead with a single to right but the Dragon defense would again turn the Cardinals away.
Saginaw Valley would have an opportunity to win the game with the score tied 0-0 in the bottom of the seventh when McBride reached on a bunt single and advanced all the way to third but would be unable to reach home and forced the game into an extra frame.
Tiffin would finally break the scoreless tie in the top of the eighth when they scored four runs on three hits in the eighth inning. Randall would single to the pitcher to lead of the Cardinals half of the inning and advanced to second on a throwing error by the shortstop. Freshman Chelsea Adcock (Pinconning, Mich.) would reach on an infield single that moved Randall over to third. Happ would then single up the middle to score Randall but that would be all the offense the Cardinals could generate as they once again left the bases loaded and fell by a score of 4-1.
Jillian Williamson (Sebewaing, Mich. / USA HS) took the loss for the Cardinals in the circle allowing four runs in eight innings pitched, while striking out three Dragons.
Game 2 vs. Tiffin - Box Score
The second game would start out much like the first as the two teams remained scoreless until the bottom of the third inning when Tiffin posted two runs on three hits for the early advantage.
Saginaw Valley would rally in the fourth when Randall tripled to right center to start off the inning. A Marcy Medina (Valparaiso Ind. / Wheeler HS) ground out to third base would plate Randall and make the score 2-1.
The Cardinals would add another run in the top of the fifth when Mackenzie Rousse (Bay City, Mich. / Western HS) reached on an error and would later score on a Lindsay Hayward (Ancaster, Ont.) single up the middle to make the score 2-2.
Tiffin would pull away from the Cardinals with three runs on five hits in the bottom of the fifth and they would add an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth as they went on to a 6-2 victory.
Chelsea Davis (Mt. Pleasant Mich.) took the loss in the circle for the Cardinals as she allowed three runs on five hits in relief of starter Sarah Appold (Bay City Mich. / Valley Lutheran HS).
With the loss, the Cardinals fall to 9-16 overall and 5-5 in the GLIAC while Tiffin improves to 13-15 on the season and 7-3 in the conference. Saginaw Valley will return to action this Wednesday (Apr. 10) when they travel to Hillsdale for a GLIAC double header. The first game is scheduled to start at 3:30 PM.